APodA advocacy update: November 2025
12 Nov 2025
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
1. The APodA calls for PBS parity for podiatrists
The APodA has lodged a submission with the Australian Government calling for urgent action to include podiatrists as authorised prescribers under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Addressed to Deputy Secretary, Penny Shakespeare, the submission outlines how this simple legislative amendment to the National Health Act 1953 would finally bring podiatrists into line with other health professionals, including nurse practitioners, optometrists and dentists, whose patients can already access subsidised medicines.
Currently, Australians prescribed medication by an endorsed podiatrist must pay full private costs or arrange an additional consultation with a GP or nurse practitioner to obtain a PBS eligible script. This not only delays care but also increases health-system costs and pressures on general practice.
The APodA’s analysis, supported by data from Griffith University, estimates the total PBS cost of including podiatry prescribing at around $2.4 million over five years, less than $500,000 a year, while delivering substantial savings through reduced hospitalisations and avoidable amputations.
The proposal aligns with national reforms under Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce and the Strengthening Medicare agenda and supports Closing the Gap priorities by improving access to culturally safe, timely foot-health care.
The APodA will continue to advocate for this critical change to ensure Australians can access affordable, life-preserving medicines prescribed by their podiatrists when and where they are needed most.
A big thank you to APodA member, Cylie Williams, who worked with the team to develop the submission.
2. The APodA involved in stakeholder event on medicines
Thank you to Bianca Knight for representing the APodA and the profession at stakeholder breakfast hosted by the Pharmacy Guild on 29 October. Assistant Minister the Hon. Rebecca White was guest speaker. The focus of the morning was access to affordable medicines and Bianca was able to raise awareness of the need for podiatrists to be included on the PBS.
NDIS
Podiatry and Foot Care Supports
The NDIS Podiatry and Foot Care Supports Policy was updated in April 2025. The revised policy encourages participants to access podiatry services through the Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) rather than via NDIS funded supports.
We raised this issue with an advisor to the NDIS Minister during our meetings in Canberra in July and have also met with officials at the NDIA to discuss its impact.
We welcome your feedback. If you have specific examples of how this policy, or other NDIS policies, has affected your participants, please share a case study via NDIS participant stories. Your insights help strengthen our advocacy efforts.
Alternatively, you can email us at advocacy@podiatry.org.au, and we will be in touch.
The Advocacy Team will continue to keep you informed about developments across the sector.
Aged care
Support at Home
Support at Home launched on 1 November. We expect the operational implementation of this scheme to not be smooth and invite members to reach out to APodA's Advocacy Team should you experience any negative impacts. You can do this by emailing advocacy@podiatry.org.au and will get back to you.
To support you and your business in understanding these changes, all APodA members can find a list of informative government links here>>
To further support the APodA PAC SIG members, they can access Support at Home Resources, such as guidelines, framework, factsheets and FAQs here >>
Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS)
Update: MBS removes select ultrasound items – No Impact on podiatrists
The Department of Health and Aged Care has announced recent updates to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), effective 1 November 2025, involving the removal of four ultrasound items.
The items removed — 55889, 55891, 55893, and 55895 — were NR-type items, meaning they could only be provided when a specialist medical practitioner determined the service was necessary in the course of practising their specialty. The inclusion of podiatry under these items was confirmed by MBS as an error.
Podiatrists continue to have access to the corresponding R-type items — 55888, 55890, 55892, and 55894 — which cover the same anatomical regions (ankle, hind foot, midfoot, and forefoot).
What this means for podiatrists
This change should have little to no impact on podiatric practice. The available R-type items remain appropriate for podiatrists conducting diagnostic ultrasound within their scope of practice, ensuring there is no loss of access to relevant MBS items.
A link to MBS’ recent news article can be found here>>
Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA)
1. DVA steps up audits and education
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) has stepped up its compliance and education activities, and it’s something all providers should be aware of.
As part of its Compliance Framework, DVA has increased the number of audits and reviews being conducted across the board. A new manual payment review process is now in place for higher-risk providers, and a few have already had their claiming rights restricted.
The Department is also sharing data with other government agencies to help identify providers or organisations that show patterns of non-compliance.
Some of the recent red flags include:
- GPs (not the veteran’s regular GP) billing for “case conferences” with allied health providers who have never treated the patient — sometimes all working for the same organisation and claiming for the same meeting.
- Provider organisations recruiting new graduates and encouraging inappropriate billing practices.
- Veterans receiving services they aren’t eligible for — or even unaware of (for example, unrequested medicinal cannabis deliveries).
The DVA has also introduced a new claims lodgement process to ensure that large or complex claims are reviewed independently before approval.
A quick reminder, for any Medicare case conferencing item, client consent must be obtained and documented in the client’s notes before a case conference takes place. Importantly, the DVA is now working closely with Ahpra and will report any providers found engaging in non-compliant behaviour.
At the APodA, we support the DVA’s efforts to maintain integrity and fairness within the system and will continue working with the Department to ensure members have clear information about compliance expectations.
What members can do
- Check consent: Always confirm and document client consent before billing for case conferencing.
- Review your claims: Make sure billing accurately reflects the service delivered, and that clients are eligible.
- Stay informed: Keep up to date with DVA and Medicare claiming rules.
- Seek advice early: If you’re unsure about a claim or billing process, contact DVA Provider Support before submitting.
2. New DVA resources and policy education updates for providers
Alongside its compliance focus, the DVA has released new tools and updates to support providers and strengthen care for veterans.
New resources for residential aged care
Fresh materials have been published to help residential aged care providers better understand the range of DVA services available to eligible clients.
VETs HeLP training and education platform
The VETs HeLP platform remains an excellent source of information and training for providers caring for veterans and their families.
- Features courses, webinars, and podcasts (with webinars showing the highest engagement).
- Future topics include Defence-to-civilian transition, medicinal cannabis, women veterans’ health, and allied health care.
- Once more allied health content is added, DVA plans to promote the platform more widely.
3. Updated notes for GPs and allied health providers
The DVA has refreshed its notes for GPs and notes for allied health providers, both available now on the DVA website. Updates include:
- Conflict of interest disclosure: Providers must declare any financial or non-financial interests before referring or recommending a service or product, and record it as part of informed consent (in line with Ahpra standards).
- Provider deregistration: DVA may deregister providers for serious non-compliance.
- Claiming guidance: Reinforced requirements for claiming under a DVA provider number to reduce inappropriate billing.
Digital health
AHPA digital health working group update
The APodA continues to actively support AHPA’s digital health working group. Recent discussions focused on the software vendors used across different allied health professions.
Thanks to forward planning and the support of our members, the APodA included this very question in our recent membership renewal survey, ensuring we have valuable data and a strong voice in future discussions on interoperability.
If you are interested in supporting or being involved in future discussions on Digital Health, please email your details to advocacy@podiatry.org.au and we'll be in touch.
Allied Health Assistants project
Supporting podiatrists to work safely with Allied Health Assistants
The Podiatry Board of Australia has released new Guidance for Working with Assistants and accompanying case studies that clarify the professional obligations of podiatrists when delegating tasks to Allied Health Assistants (AHAs).
The guidance reinforces that podiatrists remain responsible for all aspects of patient care and must ensure any assistant is appropriately trained, supervised, and supported within a safe and compliant practice environment. It also provides practical direction on supervision standards, record-keeping, escalation, and patient consent.
In response, the APodA will work on resources to help podiatrists who choose to include an AHA in their practice team, ensuring safe delegation and compliance with the advice from the Podiatry Board of Australia.
This work is part of the APodA’s commitment to uphold professional standards and to strengthen the capacity of the podiatry workforce while ensuring patient safety remains at the centre of care.
Further information and member resources will be shared over the coming months as APodA continues to support the profession in applying these new guidelines confidently.
Guidance from the Podiatry Board of Australia can be accessed here>>
Primary Health Network (PHN)
Strengthening collaboration with PHNs and Allied Health
Thanks to APodA member Mav Latemore who attended the Adelaide Primary Health Network (PHN) Allied Health Discovery Workshop on behalf of us. This workshop explored how PHNs and Allied Health Peak Bodies can better collaborate to support coordinated, multidisciplinary care.
Adelaide PHN has received federal funding under the Australian Primary Health Care 10-Year Plan (2022–2032) to enhance engagement with Allied Health. The PHN’s goal is to complement, not duplicate, the work of peak bodies such as the APodA, focusing on improved care coordination, information sharing, and integrated service delivery.
Current initiatives include mapping Allied Health providers across regions, developing new referral pathways, and embedding Allied Health professionals within GP clinics to measure the benefits of team-based models of care.
It was highlighted that existing Medicare data under represents podiatry’s contribution, particularly in aged-care settings, and noted that many patients now access services through programs such as My Aged Care and the NDIS, which sit outside Medicare reporting.
Discussions also called for more flexible Medicare funding, stronger GP–Allied Health communication, and PHN-led networking and education opportunities.
The APodA will continue working with PHNs nationally to strengthen podiatry’s voice within primary health care and to remind members to connect with their local PHN.
Find your PHN here>>
Research
Seeking focus group participants
Perspectives on multidisciplinary care for people with musculoskeletal conditions in allied health private practice in Australia – barriers, facilitators and opportunities for collaboration
The APodA is sharing a research request from the University of Sydney, which is seeking podiatrists to join online focus groups exploring multidisciplinary care in allied health private practice (Project no. 2025/HE00402).
- One 90-minute online session (via MS Teams)
- Up to 6 participants per group
- Optional follow-up interview (not mandatory)
- Aim: Understand barriers, facilitators, and opportunities for collaboration in caring for people with musculoskeletal conditions
If you’re interested, please contact Dr Hayley Thomson, Chief Investigator on the project at htho0327@uni.sydney.edu.au
Workforce update
Queensland Health maps next decade of workforce reform
The APodA recently attended a Queensland Health briefing outlining the development of a new Queensland Health Workforce Strategy - a comprehensive plan to strengthen and future-proof the state’s health workforce over the next decade.
The strategy, still in early design, will focus on addressing workforce shortages, improving distribution across metropolitan and regional areas, and embedding cultural safety and innovation across all levels of healthcare delivery. Queensland Health outlined ambitions to expand and redesign roles, boost clinical placement opportunities, and improve leadership and retention through better career pathways.
Following the briefing, the APodA lodged a submission.
A draft of the plan is expected to be released for consultation in early 2026, with opportunities for organisations and peak bodies such as APodA to provide submissions. Once finalised, the strategy will guide workforce planning through to 2032, aligning with Queensland’s growing healthcare needs and reform agenda.
The APodA will continue to monitor progress closely and engage with members to ensure podiatry and allied health voices are represented.
Ahpra consultation
Principles for the use of outcome-based approaches to accreditation
The independently chaired Accreditation Committee has commenced public consultation on its draft principles for the use of outcome-based approaches to accreditation.
An outcome-based approach to accreditation results in accreditation systems and processes that produce graduates with the skills, knowledge and professional attributes to register as a health practitioner, and their continuing contribution and impact on healthcare. It encourages flexible and innovative approaches to education in response to changes in community need, healthcare models and innovations.
The committee would like your feedback on specific questions about the draft principles. The consultation materials can be accessed on the committee’s current consultations webpage. You can provide your feedback using the response template (Word document) and email the committee at AC_consultation@ahpra.gov.au
Consultations are now open and closes on 24 December 2025.